Orifice cleaning mechanism for burners



' C. BRAMMING Oct. 22, 1957 ORIFICE CLEANING MECBANISM FOR BURNERS FiledApri1 26; 1955 N MN aw A Q LN IN VEN TOR.

Industries, Incorporated, Nashville, Tenn a corporation of IllinoisApplication April 26, 1955, Serial No. 503,929

Claims. (Cl. 158-120) This invention relates to burners for vaporizedfuel, and particularly to an orifice cleaning mechanism for suchburners.

One principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedorifice cleaning mechanism comprising a cleaning rod which is readilyremovable and replaceable without completely disassembling the mechamsm.

A further object is to provide a new and improved orifice cleaningmechanism in which an orifice cleaning rod is mounted on a reciprocablecarriage in such a manner that the rod may readily be removed withoutthe necessity for removing the carriage or otherwise disassembling themechanism.

Another object is to provide such a new and improved orifice cleaningmechanism which is highly effective and dependable yet is simple and lowin cost.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken through afragment of a burner for vaporized fuel, to illustrate an exemplaryorifice cleaning mechanism constituting an illustrative embodiment ofthe invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along a line22 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in longitudinal section,of an orifice cleaning rod embodied in the mechanism of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a reciprocable carriage forthe cleaning rod of Fig. 3.

If the drawings are considered in greater detail it will be seen thatthey illustrate a portion of a burner 11 for f nited States Patentvaporized gasoline, kerosene or other hydrocarbon fuels.

As shown in fragmentary fashion in Fig. 1, the illustrated portion ofthe burner 11 may comprise a fuel-air mixing tube 12 which delivers fuelmixture to the burner proper (not shown). A lateral air intake tube 13communicates with the upper end of the mixing tube 12.

Fuel vapor is admitted axially to the upper end of the mixing tube 12 bymeans of a nozzle 14 formed with a metering orifice 15, which may be ofextremely small size, particularly when the burner is designed to burnat a low fuel rate and hence to give a low heat output. Such burnersfind one application, for example, in portable vapor fuel lamps of theincandescent mantle type.

It has been found that the metering orifice 15 tends to become clogged,either with foreign particles entrained in the fuel vapor, or by carbonand gum deposited in the orifice due to the effect of heat upon thehydrocarbon fuel. Accordingly, it has become more or less standardpractice to provide some sort of a mechanism for periodically cleaningthe orifice in burners of this type.

Thus the illustrated burner 11 comprises a cleaning mechanism 16 havingan elongated, generally tubular body 17 with a slightly reduced frontend portion 18 which is received in the entrance end of the mixing tube12. A set screw 19 retains the body 17 in the mixing tube 12. It will beseen that the nozzle 14 is threadedly received in an axial opening 20which is formed in the front end of the body 17. The orifice 15 isconnected to the opening 20 by means of an enlarged bore 21, formed inthe nozzle 14 to the rear of the orifice. The rear end of the opening 20flares into an enlarged bore 22 extending the length of the body 17.

Fuel vapor enters the bore 22 through a passage 23 in a fitting 24,which is mounted in an opening 25 extending laterally in the body 17from the bore 22. A fuel-supply pipe 26 is connected to the fitting 24by means of an annular clamping nut 27. The pipe 26 may extend to avapor generator (not shown).

To clean the orifice 15, a cleaning rod 28 is received in the bore 22.It will be seen from Fig. 3 that the cleaning rod 28 has a needle point29 which in this case is fixedly mounted in a socket 30 formed axiallyat the front end of the cleaning rod. As shown in Fig. 1, the needlepoint 29 is adapted to move through the orifice so as to dislodge anyforeign material. The cleaning rod 28 has a reduced front end portion 31of such size as to be received Within the bore 21, formed in the nozzle14, with ample clearance for the passage of fuel vapor around thereduced portion.

The cleaning rod 28 is supported for reciprocation along the bore 22 bymeans of a carriage 32. A shaft 33 is provided for reciprocating thecarriage. It will be seen that the shaft 33 has an eccentric end portionin the form of a crank 34 which engages the carriage 32.

The shaft 33 is journalled in a fitting 35 and an extension tube 36. Thefitting 35 is threadedly received in a bushing 37 which is mounted in alateral opening 38 formed in the body 17. Thus the crank 34 projectsinto the bore 22, for engagement with the carriage 32. At its outer end,the extension tube 36 is connected to a packing sleeve 39 which receivesa packing ring 40. A packing nut 41 is threaded onto the sleeve to forcean annular gland 42 against the packing ring 40.

While it is possible to remove the operating shaft 33 by unscrewing thefitting 35, the fitting 35 is often practically inaccessible in acompactly designed burner. Accordingly, it might be necessary todisassemble a considerable portion of the burner to expose the fitting35 and thus permit removal of the shaft 33. Such removal of the shaft isnecessary to disengage the crank 34 from the carriage and thereby permitremoval of the carriage from the bore 22.

Due to the small size and delicacy of the needle point 29, it mayoccasionally be necessary or desirable to remove and replace thecleaning rod 28. In the illustrated cleaning mechanism, the cleaning rod28 may be removed quite readily, Without any necessity for removing theoperating shaft 33 or the carriage 32. To this end,.the body 17 isarranged to be closed by a removable member in the form of a cap 43,threadedly received onthe rear end of the body. Formed in the cap 43 isa blind bore 44 constituting a rearward extension of the bore 22. Itwill be evident that removal of the cap 43 will expose the rear ends ofthe carriage 32 and the cleaning rod 28.

In the illustrated cleaning mechanism 16, the cleaning rod 28 and thecarriage 32 are formed so that the rod will be removably retained on thecarriage. While the carriage may assume various forms, it is illustratedas an elongated sheet metal channel having flanges or walls 45 and 46connected by a web or side wall 47. A turned up flange provides a frontwall 48 formed with an aperture 49 adapted to receive the front end ofthe cleaning rod 28. The flanges 45 and 46 and the web 47 areproportioned so that the carriage 32 will be freely slidable Within thebore 22. It will be understood that the aperture 49 Patented Oct. 22,1957 3 is axially disposed so as to center the cleaning rod 28 relativeto the orifice 15.

To receive the crank 34, the carriage 32 is formed with a transverseslot '50. -In this instance, the slot extenids fthlfoughthe web 47 andportions of the flanges as an -46.

Toretainlthe cleaning rod .28 so that it Will reciprocate with'thecarriage .32, a lateral seat in the form of a "slot or recess 51 isformed in the rear end portion of the carriage-32. in the illustratedconstruction the 'slot 51 extends through the side wall or web 47. Inthe neighborhood of the slot 51, the fianges 45 and 46 are cut away todefine notches 52 and 53.

The cleaning rod 28 is retained on :the carriage 32 by means of a rearend portion 54 comprising lateral formations or elements .in the Stormof first and second lateral lugs or arms 55 and 56. As shown, the lugs55 and 56 are formed by bending the rear end portion 54 in one lateraldirection, as indicated at 57, and then doubling back the end of the.rod in the opposite lateral direction, as indicated at 58.

As clearly shown in Fig. l, the first lateral ing 55 is adapted to bereceived in the slot 51 formed in the carriage 32. It will be seen thatthe slot 51 is elongated to accommodate the lug 55. The second lug 56serves to retain the first lug 55 in the slot 51. Thus the second ing 56has a rounded end surface 59 adapted to slide along the bores 22 and 44-in the body 17 and the cap 43. Engagement between the second ing 56 andthe bores 22 and 44 prevents lateral movement of the first lug 55 out ofthe slot 51. -It will be evident from Fig. 1 that the lugs 55 and 55also serve to .center the rear end of the cleaning rod 28 in the bore22. :It will be seen that the retaining lug 56 moves into the bore 44along the rearward portion of the range of reciprocation afforded by thecarriage 32. Thus the cleaning rod 28 may be removed by the followingsimple procedure: The cap 43 is unscrewed so as to expose the rear endof the cleaning rod 28. Next, the shaft 33 is rotated to-shift thecarriage 32 and the cleaning rod 28, to their most rearwardly displacedpositions. This moves the retaining lug 56 out of the bore 22.Accordingly, the rear end of the cleaning rod 28 may be swung laterally,as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, to disengage the ing 55 from theslot 53. It is then possible to withdraw the cleaning rod 28 rearwardlyfrom the bore 22. The rod may be replaced by a reversal of theseoperations.

lt thus is possible to remove the cleaning rod without any necessity forremoving the operating shaft 33. 'In compactly designed burners this isoften a very important advantage. It will be evident that this advantagehas been achieved without unduly complicating the orifice cleaningmechanism. Accordingly, the entire mechanism may be made at extremelylow cost.

Various modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may beemployed without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined in thefollowing "claims.

I claim:

1. in a burner for vaporized fuel, the combination comprising a bodyhaving a bore therein, means defining an axial fuel metering orifice atone end of said bore, an

orifice cleaning rod in said bore and having a front end portion with aneedle point movable into and out of said orifice, a carriage supportingsaid cleaning rod for axial reciprocation in said bore, said carriagecomprising an elongated channel-shaped member having side flanges and aconnecting web, said carriage having a front end flange with an aperturetherein removably receiving the front end portion of said cleaning rod,said cleaning rod having a rear end portion bent laterally in onedirection and doubled back to define a lateral lug and then extendinglaterally in the opposite direction to define a :lateralarm, said webhavinga slot adjacentits rearend disengag'eably receiving and retainingsaid lug, a cap removably mounted v on said body and having a blind boretherein constituting a continuation of said boredn said body, saidlateral arm having its end slidably engageable with said bores in saidbody and cap for retaining said lug in said slot, a laterally extendingshaft rotatably mounted on said body and having a crank projecting .intosaid bore therein, a transverse slot in said web receiving said crank sothat said carriage will ibe reciprocated iax-ially of said bore whensaid crank is rotated, said crank retaining said carriage in said bore,said cleanin'g rod being removable from said carriage by removing saidcap, shifting'said carriage rearwardly to move said arm out of said borein said body, moving said lug laterally out ofzsaid slot, andwithdrawing said rod rearwardly.

2. in a burner, the combination comprising a body having a bore therein,means defining an orifice at one end of said bore, an orifice cleaningrod in said bore and having a front end portion with .a needle pointmovable through said (orifice, sa :hollow carriage recipricably receivedin said bore and having a front end wall with .an axial aperture therein.for receiving the front end portion of said "cleaning rod, means forreciprocating said carriage axially of said bore, esaid cleaning rodhaving a rear end portion withfirst and second lateral lug elementsextending generally in opposite directions, said carriage having a.lateralwall with a :slot therein disengageably receiving said first lugelementso that said :rod will reciprocate with said carriage, a'closureremovably mounted on said body and'having'a'bore thereinconstituting a continuation of the rear end :of .said bore in said body,said second lug element being disposed for slidable engagement with saidbore in said 'closure :to retain said first lug element in said slot,said cleaning rod'being removable from said carriage by removing saidclosure member, operating said reciproeating means toishiftt-saidcarriage rearwardly and thereby move said second :lug element out ofsaid bore in said body, moving said rear end .portion of said cleaningrod laterally:to disengage said first lug element from said slot, andwithdrawing said-cleaning rod rearwardly out of said bore in said body.

3. .In a burner for vapored fuel, the combination comprising a bodyhaving -'a bore therein, means defining an axial fuel metering orificeat one end of said bore, an orifice cleaning rod in said 'bore andhaving a front end portion with a needle point movable through saidorifice, a carriage reciprocably received in said bore and having afront wall with an aperture therein for receiving the front end portionof said cleaning rod, a laterally extending shaft having aneccentric-end portion projecting into said bore, mea'ns on-said bodysupporting said shaft for rotation, means on said carriage for receivingsaid eccentric end portion so that rotation of said shaft willreciprocate said carriage axially of said bore, said eccentric endportion retaining said carriage in said bore, said cleaning rod having arear end portion with first and second lateral lugs extending inopposite directions, said carriage having 'a re'ar end portioncomprising a side wall formed with a slot disengageably receiving saidfirst lug so that said rod will reciprocate with said carriage, aclosure removably mounted on said body and having a blind bore thereinconstituting a continuation of the rear end of said bore in said body,said second lug being disposed for slidable engagement with said blindbore to retain said first lug in said slot, said cleaning rod beingrerr'rovabl'e from said carriage by removing said closure member,rotating said shaft to shift said carriage 'rearwardly and "thereby movesaid second lug out of said borein said body, moving said rear endportion of said cleaning rod laterally to disengage said first lug fromsaid slot, and withdrawing said cleaning rod rearwardly out of said herein said body.

4. In a burner, the combination comprising a body :having.& boretherein, means defining an orifice at one end .of .said bore, orificecleaning rod in said bore and having a front end portion with a needlepoint movable into and out of said orifice, a carriage supporting saidcleaning rod for reciprocation in said bore, means for reciprocatingsaid carriage axially of said bore, said carriage comprising anelongated channel-shaped member having side flanges and a connectingweb, said carriage having a front end flange with an aperture thereinremovably receiving the front end portion of said cleaning rod, saidcleaning rod having a rear end portion bent laterally in one directionand doubled back to define a lateral lug and then extending laterally inthe opposite direction to define a lateral arm, said web having a slotadjacent its rear end disengageably receiving and retaining said lug,and a cap removably mounted on said body and having a blind bore thereinconstituting a continuation of said bore in said body, said lateral armhaving its end slidably engageable with said bores in said body and capfor retaining said lug in said slot, said cleaning rod being removablefrom said carriage by removing said cap, shifting said carriagerearwardly to move said arm out of said bore in said body, moving saidlug laterally out of said slot, and withdrawing said rod rearwardly.

5. In a burner, the combination comprising a body having a bore therein,means defining an orifice at one end of said bore, an orifice cleaningrod in said bore and having a front end portion with a needle point mov-25 able through said orifice, a carriage reciprocably retained in saidbore, means for reciprocating said carriage axially of said bore, saidcarriage having a front portion with an opening extending axiallytherein and disengageably receiving the front portion of said rod,interlocking male and female formations for effecting reciprocation ofsaid rod along with said carriage, said male formation projectinglaterally into said female formation, one of said formations being onsaid carriage near the rear end thereof and the other of said formationsbeing on said rod, a. closure element removably mounted on said body andhaving a bore therein constituting a continuation of the rear end ofsaid bore in said body, and a lateral projection on said rod extendingaway from said formation on said carriage and slidably engaging saidaligned bores in the course of reciprocation of said carriage forretaining said male and female formations in interlocking engagement,said carriage being open opposite said formation thereon to provide forlateral movement of said rod away from said formation on said carriageto disengage said male and female formations and thereby release saidrod for removal from said body with said closure element removed andsaid carriage moved rearwardly to position said lateral projection outof said bore in said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

